BJA FY 19 National Officer Safety Initiatives Program | BJA 2019 15343

Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2019 15343

The BJA FY 19 National Officer Safety Initiatives Program is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), focused on improving law enforcement officer safety as a core DOJ priority. The program is framed as part of the broader federal emphasis on officer safety reflected in the February 9, 2017 executive order, and it seeks new or creative approaches that can strengthen officer safety in multiple areas. The central idea is that modern policing exposes officers to a wide range of threats and high-stress situations, including volatile encounters, physically dangerous incidents, and emotionally traumatic events, and that these pressures can lead to injuries, fatalities, and longer-term harm if agencies do not actively address them.

The opportunity emphasizes that officer safety is not only about tactical readiness or equipment, but also about preparing officers to handle the emotional and mental demands of the job. BJA highlights the cumulative physical and psychological toll of policing and the need for officers to have practical skills, knowledge, and tools that support both wellness and operational performance. In other words, the program supports initiatives that help officers become safer and healthier overall, while also strengthening their ability to serve their communities effectively under difficult conditions. The solicitation is intentionally oriented toward addressing both established needs and emerging trends or concerns affecting officer safety.

This funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number BJA 2019 15343) uses a cooperative agreement structure, which typically means the federal agency expects to have an active role during the project period rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back. The program is associated with CFDA number 16.738 and is categorized under several broad activity areas, including law, justice, and legal services, as well as training, health, information/statistics, and related fields, reflecting the wide range of officer safety strategies that could be supported.

Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (including entities other than small businesses as well as small businesses); and other applicant types as described in the original eligibility notes. This wide eligibility suggests BJA intended to encourage partnerships and innovations that can come from both public-sector agencies and external organizations with relevant expertise.

In terms of scale, the award ceiling is $1,500,000 per award, and BJA anticipated making approximately four awards. The opportunity was created on March 22, 2019, with an original application closing date of May 21, 2019. Overall, the program is designed to spur practical, forward-looking projects that measurably reduce officer injuries and deaths, strengthen readiness for dangerous situations, and improve officers ability to manage stress, trauma exposure, and other wellness-related challenges that can affect safety and performance over time.

• The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in the education, employment, labor and training, health, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), information and statistics, law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 19 National Officer Safety Initiatives Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.738.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 22, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 21, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for BJA 2019 15343

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